FORGE: Foundry for Operational Readiness and Global Effects

Problem Statement

The DoD is experiencing and projecting production bottlenecks for certain traditionally manufactured parts and platforms. This solicitation is seeking solutions to boost production capacity and remove production bottlenecks for cast metal parts used in high-performance aeronautical systems. The Government expects advanced manufacturing techniques that support high rate production, but is open to any novel methods which best achieve government goals such as, but not limited to: survivability, reliability, and affordability. The following information must be included in vendor submissions:

• Maximum part dimensions
• Material types and properties
• Suitability (including data collection, modeling, simulation, etc) for part certification/qualification
• Expected production rates and capacities for parts of at least 21 inches in diameter

Additional relevant details, such as tolerances, past project examples, etc may be included to further demonstrate capabilities.

Teaming/Partnerships

Vendors may submit partial solutions, however the Government strongly encourages teaming for responses to this Area of Interest if vendors are unable to propose complete solutions. As part of the selection process, the Government may seek to team companies with complementary solutions. Traditional defense contractors are reminded that under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, that if you do not qualify as a non-traditional company that the government will seek either a one-third cost share in the prototyping effort or that the proposal must demonstrate that significant work is being performed with a non-traditional partner. Selected vendors may be required to engage in partnerships with other vendors to achieve government objectives.

Awarding Instrument

This solicitation will be awarded in accordance with the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process detailed within HQ0845-20-S-C001 (DIU CSO), posted to SAM.gov on 13 Jan 2020, updated 02 Oct 2023. This document can be found at: https://sam.gov/opp/e74c907a9220429d9ea995a4e9a2ede6/view

Vendors are reminded that in order to utilize an Other Transaction (OT) agreement the requirements of 10 USC 4022 must be satisfied. Specifically reference 10 USC 4022(d), which requires significant contribution from a nontraditional defense contractor, all participants to be small business concerns, or at least one third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the Federal Government.

Follow-on Production

Companies are advised that any prototype OT agreement awarded in response to this AOI may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of further competitive procedures. The follow-on production contract or transaction will be available for use by one or more organizations in the Department of Defense and, as a result, the magnitude of the follow-on production contract or agreement could be significantly larger than that of the prototype OT. As such, any prototype OT will include the following statement relative to the potential for follow-on production: "In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4022(f), and upon a determination that the prototype project for this transaction has been successfully completed, this competitively awarded prototype OT may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of competitive procedures.”